[13/05/2026 11:50]

RIYADH- SABA

Minister of Culture and Tourism Engineer Muti’a Damaj discussed with the Head of the Culture and Society Department at the German Foreign Office Ambassador Christina Beinhoff prospects for cultural cooperation between the two countries and ways to support the government in the fields of antiquities, museums, documentation, digitization and capacity building for Yemeni professionals.

During the meeting, attended by the German Ambassador to Yemen Thomas Friedrich Schneider, both sides reviewed the historical relations between the two countries and emphasized the importance of resuming and developing cultural cooperation in a way that contributes to preserving Yemeni cultural identity and normalizing cultural life, particularly in the temporary capital, Aden.

Minister Damaj stressed the importance of restoring Germany’s cultural role in Yemen, foremost through reopening the German House and the Goethe-Institut in Aden, considering this an important step to support cultural activity and strengthen institutional cooperation between the two countries.

He also highlighted the need to resume German support programs for the antiquities and museums sector, complete projects for documenting and digitizing Yemeni antiquities, support government efforts to recover looted artifacts and curb their smuggling, in addition to training personnel working in the fields of antiquities, museums and manuscripts, as well as supporting film production and literary grants.

For her part, the Head of the Culture and Society Department at the German Foreign Office affirmed Germany’s interest in supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, particularly in the project of documenting and digitizing Yemeni archaeological artifacts and enhancing the role of civil society in the cultural sector.

She also pointed to the important role of the German Archaeological Institute and the Goethe-Institut in strengthening cultural cooperation between the two countries.

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